OREANDA-NEWS. The US carmaker General Motors may return to the Russian market in 2-3 years. It was stated by the head of the department of transport and special engineering Industry and Trade, Alexander Morozov, by referring to the words of the head of the Russian division of GM, Susanna Webber.

"Last time, when Mrs. Susanna Webber was with us, she talked about how the process of conservation (GM plant in St. Petersburg) is to be held. The official version, which she imagined is that, unfortunately, she was unable to convince the board of directors of General Motors on the allocation of additional funds for compensation of losses from the activity of GM in the Russian market in 2015 and the next two years", - explained Mr.Morozov reasons for the leaving of the company from the Russian market. During this period, he said, a relatively low level of localization with a high level of competition in the market would not allow the company to profit from the Russian market. "But GM has promised us that it plans to return in two-three years”, - said Mr.Morozov, who was cited by the agency "Tass."

According to him, there are no serious concerns that the situation that happened with GM will be repeated with the other auto companies. In general, car manufacturers have maintained their investment plans, despite today's existing risks, said Mr.Morozov.

"At the end of 2014 the share of Opel and Chevrolet (brands of GM) was 8%. After retiring from the market, GM lost this share, which is closed actively by those who were close - the same price category. They are Korean brands - Hyundai and KIA, and Ford, and Peugeot-Citroen and models Renault, Nissan. After a possible return in the market, GM will have to win again the place in Russia. It is not easy and requires a certain cost. Success will depend on the proposed range and level of prices", - said the Head of Analytic Department of the agency "AUTOSTAT", Andrew Toptun.

Recall on March 18th, the US General Motors has announced about a major review of plans for the Russian market and it declined from almost all of its production sites - announced the closure of the plant in St. Petersburg, it stopped the contract assembly at the facilities of Kaliningrad "Avtotor" and Nizhny Novgorod GAZ and it has left only the joint venture with AvtoVAZ - GM-AvtoVAZ. The company also announced the discontinuation of the Opel brand from the Russian market and all popular models of the brand Chevrolet, by keeping only the market premium model of the last one, as well as the brand Cadillac.